I am looking at getting the wif a remote start unit for her '04 LLY.
Anyone out there have any suggestions?

Thanx in advance

rog

I prefer Astro Start to any others. www.astroflex.com (http://www.astroflex.com) There are several people here that have them and I think they are happy with them. I am pretty sure there are quite a few astro start dealers in MN so you should have too much trouble. If you are good with a soldering iron and have an understanding of electrical you could also considering doing it yourself. They claim 1/2 mile range and in most conditions you will see every bit of that and more.Edited by: Max Power

Do a search for 'Remote Starter' and you should see a couple of recent
threads on the subject. I know both Max Power and BlueOx03 sell
them. I got my AstroStart 2205 from Max Power and installed it
myself. Fun project and pretty easy. Price was good too.



Thanks,

Dennis

I have the Ultra Start in my LLY. It has the security feature as well
(electronic lock-out / immobilization.... including lots - and I
mean lots - of noise if alarm is triggered. I had it pulled out from my
previous 2001 Chev 2500 8. liter just before I traded it in on my 04
LLY. It continues to work flawlessly... this time on a diesel.



The Ultra Start unit has excellent starting range ... something that is
very important to me. It also gives me visual confirmation that my
truck has started and whether the doors are locked or not. Next week I
am getting my installer to utilize one of the spare channels /
frequencies (set aside for opening the trunk which I obviously don't
use) to remote start the Webasto diesel fired heater (cab & engine)
I had installed a while back. Using the Ultra will give me much
better range for starting the Webasto than the remote start that
came with the diesel heater unit.



hope that helps a bit.... best regards.

I have the CLIFFORD alarm/remote start. It too has great range, has the LCD screen to let you know what is going on and has not given me any problems.

DIB, if by "wif" you mean "wife" then ole JJ needs to put his .02 cents worth in on this thread. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif I put a remote start/security system on my 02 Avalanche for Mama JJ which she loved, emphasis on loved, until she was stranded in a parking lot 400 miles from home with a dead truck. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif


While these systems offer great convenience they are not without problems. I had a local car options place install a top of the line unit in (at the time), problem is they were not a national company and there was no local shop she could contact for assistance. I was able to diagnose the problem over the phone and walk her through getting the truck to start. However, she never used it again for fear of getting stuck in a similar situation.


I installed another remote start on my Dumax, but this time I purchased it through Circuit City since odds are there may be a store in most major cities should she have any problems. AAA can tow it there, then I can deal with CC. Good advice above to do a web search and gain your own intel.


Its one thing for me to be stuck on the side of the road, Mama JJ's another story. She's more comfortable knowing she can usually find someone locally should she have problems. FWIW. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

If you go with a data security bypass instead of a resistor bypass it will never leave you stranded if installed correctly.

MP, never? For you guys that can tear into systems, pull circuits, and run things to ground these things aren't a problem. However, my experience has been nothing is absolutely 100% failproof. Yes you can minimize your risks with a particular bypass, but totally eliminating all problems with these components is another issue.


My main point to DIB is if this is his wifes car and she will be traveling away it is nice to know there are technical folks out there she can obtain assistance from. Good discussion, DIB is gaining plenty of intel to chew on. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

Never http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

In this case, the data bypass module itself would have to break.
Solid state electronics nowadays make that a 'remote' possibility (pun
intended). You can't go wrong with the Astroflex.



Dennis

Even if it did break it will still not disable the OEM security like a resistor bypass will.

Some resistor bypasses require cutting the R-code wire which if it fails can cause the truck not to start. The ones that don't require cutting can fail and provide power to the wire at the same time as the key provides power in turn throwing it off, again causing the truck to not start.


With a data bypass module, worse case scenerio the remote starter will not work but you will be able to start it with the key.

Viper remote start installed by Tweeter Etc. About $400 including the install and all the extra modules you need for the newer Silverado. Haven't had a problem yet.

Data bypass module, OEM security, R-code wire??? MP/BA, you've made my point. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif The average smuck, yeah like me, isn't going to have the slightest idea what to fidgit with, disconnect, disable, etc., should any issues/problems arise while on the road. Are these units failproof, NOPE! Is the OEM system failproof, NOPE! My Avalanche's OEM security system was faulty. Does sh_t happen? YEP! In most cases, not all (politically correct) our wives won't have a clue either while they are out on the road in who-knows-where. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif Like I said: been there, done that! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


I'm not saying not to install a remote start/security system, heck I put another one on my new truck and put Mama JJ behind the wheel again with a 40' 5ver in tow. But I did learn a valuable lesson. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley24.gif


DIB, regardless of which system you have installed you may want to have a reputable, qualified company install it, preferably one with operations nationwide so that if your wife encounters problems while she is on the road somewhere she will have a better chance of getting assistance. If you are like MP and others and can do it yourself, then you might select a manufacturer that has vendors throughout the country or region where you and your wife might frequent.


Nuff said, the end, bye bye, JJ's out! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

JJ I get where you are coming from. All I am saying is that from my experience (several thousand installs) I have never had one failure with a data bypass module. I have seen several hundred resistor type modules fail. The theory of operation of a data bypass module puts you way ahead of the rest.


My point is that if you are sure what you are buying your chances are A LOT less that it will ever leave you stranded (zero percent?). So the "average smuck" doesn't need to worry about things like that if they make an informed purchase in the first place.

Okay I have a question for you Max.


I had an 02 LB7 with a Viper system that gave me all kinds of trouble. The pass lock bypass module (unsure if it was a resisor or data bypass) had a mind of its own. Sometime is would work sometimes it would not. I had it replaced three times at no cost by the original install place to no avail.


What sucked about the whole situation was if I tried to start the truck with the remote start and it did not work I was stranded for 15-20 min while the factory security system reset. I could not even start the truck with the key until the factory security system had time to reset. It got to the point where I did not want to use the remote start in fear of having to wait in the parking lot while the system reset.


I have not had a remote start installed in my LLY for the above reasons even though I would realy like to have one. Are you saying the remote starts you sell are imune to the problem described above?


Please elaborate???


Thanks in advance..........


OD

That very thing is the exact problem that resistor type bypasses have.


With a data bypass you will not have that problem.


That is the main reason I preach data bypasses.

Thanks Max Power I will look into it.................http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif

I have a one in my truck, similar to cracker jack. It's a awesome unit. My wife has one also in her Yukon. It has awesome range. Mine so good in range. I have thick metallic window tint all around my truck. It really messed up my range. http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/viper_on.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/viper/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/clifford.gif (javascript submit1;)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/rattler.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/rattler/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/python.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/python/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/valet.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/valet/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/hornet.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/hornet/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/avital.gif (javascript submit2;)


http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/sidewinder.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/sidewinder/default.asp)http://www.directed.com/images/images/topnavbutton/wasp.gif (http://www.directed.com/security/wasp/default.asp)


All these are made by DEI. Which from my computer/electronic geek of a friend says DEI is the best. http://www.directed.com/
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Edited by: earthcrusher

Max - will a system like youve described mess with programs in any way, i.e., a downloader, and edge box stacked ? would i have anything to worry about ? thanks

tbone1227, I haven't heard of any problems but I haven't tried it either. It would be easy to make the data connection a plug in connection so it could easily be unplugged if it did for some reason cause a problem. I'll try to get my hands on a downloader and try it.


I would think that it won't cause any problems.

I just had a Clifford (read DEI) installed and have not had any
problems. I had problems like Max said when I had my 01 with the
resistor type. The new one came with a data bypass and it seems
to be working fine. I do like the "turbo" option that lets me
idle for 5 min to let the turbo cool.



One suggestion if you are going to by is to talk to the installer about
all the options that can be set in the system. Mine came
defaulted with the lights flashing when the vehicle is remote
started. I didn't like this so I had it changed. The
salesman didn't mention this or any of the other options that could be
set.